Question

7) In their 30-year studies of Darwin's finches, the Grants have discovered that the medium ground finch and cactus finch formed hybrids on the island of Daphne Major. These hybrids

A) usually died before hatching showing reproductive isolation between medium ground and cactus finches.

B) represent an example of rapid sympatric speciation.

C) reproduce with the parent species, showing that ground finches and cactus finches are all one species.

D) are unable to produce a song and are therefore unable to find a mate.

Answer 1

The correct option is (D) as

On the basis of observations made by the Grants at Daphne Major, the hybridization between 2 distinct species led to formation of a new lineage. Moreover it took only 2 decades for the formation of this new bird species. The appearance of this new bird had provided knowledge on how new species emerge,

Grants noticed a new male bird that sang an unusual odd song (Song was a means of attracting mates) which failed to attract females from nearby area. The offspring also differed from the rest species in the size and shaoe of its beak. This new bird was much bigger in its size than any normal existing species as well.